The Greek Air Traffic Controllers Association (EEEKE) announced that a data link failure with the radar station on Merenta Hill on Wednesday reduced Athens Approach to one of its three required radars and left it without backup frequencies. The association stated that an identical failure had occurred last August, caused by a spare part that the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) had been considering procuring since May 2024 and has still not acquired.

The association’s statement in full:

‘We found ourselves watching the same story unfold again this morning, after communication with Merenta Hill was lost once more, just as it was last August, when the spare part that the Ministry of Public Works had been “evaluating” since May 2024 whether it should acquire failed and has not been delivered to date.

‘Athens Approach, which serves the country’s largest airport, was once again left with only one radar, out of the three that should normally be operating, and without backup frequencies, after data transfer to and from Merenta Hill was interrupted.

‘On 4 January 2026, we faced the unacceptable incident of a total loss of communications at KEPATHM, for which we have still not been informed of the causes. The administration has not proceeded with a safety assessment study, nor has it even issued operational instructions for traffic management, given that the failure can be repeated at any time. Yet sector capacities remain at 100%, as if nothing had happened.

‘Today’s failure in the data link with Merenta Hill is not happening for the first time. This further exposes the administration of the Ministry of Public Works and the competent directors, since it is a repetition of the same problem that occurred months ago and for which the Ministry of Public Works assured it would not happen again.

‘Unfortunately, despite the removal of the previous commander, his associates, who equally bear a share of responsibility for the situation the Hellenic Air Navigation Service finds itself in today, remain, for inexplicable reasons, untouched. It is therefore no wonder why nothing changes.

‘It seems that no one in charge has been moved by the humiliation of the Ministry of Public Works, which was forced to resort to seeking a donation to acquire the voice communications system for KEPATHM. This was not because the service lacks resources, but because the administration’s choices, in pursuing for years the revival of a contract that everyone knew was impossible, led to the loss of valuable time.

‘Meanwhile, the Ministry of Public Works is still seeking to conclude a contract for the new radar system (DPS), the budget of which has now reached €160m, up from €76m in 2024 and €150m a few weeks ago, without the competent department having presented technical specifications. This is a global first: it seeks to spend a huge amount without specifying exactly which system will be delivered.

‘At the same time, the contract for the relocation of Athens Approach, after a 13-month delay in being signed due to the administration’s indifference to the timely renewal of funding, has already been delayed by 3 months in its implementation because the competent department has not appointed a committee to determine the detailed functional specifications (DFS). This mirrors the situation that led to the termination of the contract for the KEPATHM voice communications system, without the system being delivered.

‘It is now clear that the pattern followed for decades, which led to the absence of safety-critical systems, is being repeated today, at a time when such extensive damage incidents have occurred and when the entire country is aware of the magnitude of the problem. Those responsible for acquiring the systems appear to remain unmoved. The question that must be answered, of course, is why they continue to act in the same way and why they remain in their positions. The minister and the justice system must now hold them accountable.

‘The only thing that is certain is that the situation has long since passed the limits of what is tolerable. As long as it continues, and as long as no substantial measures are taken to renew the equipment and upgrade the reliability of the existing one, air traffic controllers, respecting our duty towards flight safety, will take all necessary measures, including reducing capacity, to protect the safety of the travelling public.

‘Once again, the only safety valve that worked was the air traffic controllers, who faced equipment malfunction for the umpteenth time and were able to guide aircraft to a safe landing. But this cannot continue.

‘Under the current circumstances, we declare, once again, that no overtime will be provided in the coming summer season, since we owe it to the travelling public and the country not to become an alibi for the leadership of the Ministry of Public Works and the competent directors to continue operating in the same way that led the service to the current tragic situation.

‘We are determined to take any action to end the prevailing mentality within the Hellenic Air Navigation Service that has led it to decline, so that the country can acquire an air navigation service provider worthy of European standards.’

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